Jesse Jackson helps welcome Kamflex to Aurora

Civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin recently welcomed the first Black-owned manufacturing company to town.

Kamflex, a manufacturing and robotics company, is nestled in the city’s northeast side.

“The dream has come alive, and I want to recognize this amazing team for starting this Black-owned business. We will do everything in our power to make sure you’re successful here in Aurora,” said Irvin during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week marking the opening of a new production facility.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Grant Branch, the 50-year-old manufacturing company plans to expand its footprint and portfolio.

Founded in 1974, Kamflex is a leading manufacturer of high-quality conveyor products and processing equipment for the food, pharmaceutical, aerospace, automotive, and other industries.

Kamflex serves most Fortune 500 companies handling products such as cereals, snack foods, confectionery, bakery, meat, poultry, dairy, seafood, frozen foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and personal hygiene products, according to a city news release.

Minority-owned manufacturing firms make up 12.8% of all U.S. manufacturing firms. The disparity is even more pronounced for Black Americans — only 2% of publicly held manufacturing firms are Black-owned, the release said.

This statistic prompted Jackson’s visit to Aurora to celebrate the opening of Kamflex in the state’s second-largest city

Jackson reminded the crowd to stay steadfast in the pursuit of equity.